Jonah 4: The Resentful Prophet
Jonah 4:1-11
An amazing miracle has happened as an entire NATION of people drops to its knees in unified repentance to the one true God. It’s every pastor’s BEST dream, but the prophet Jonah… sits. And whines. Seems a bit anti-climactic for the end of the book, like a overly-hip indie film. What we see is that even a guy God employs to bring a nation to its knees can do everything the Lord asks and still not get it.
Jonah is upset that God is not how he wanted or imagined Him to be. God is sovereign and God is free, and Jonah – as we do – needs to define God by who he reveals himself to be. We are called to put our trust in an untamed and mysterious Creator, not our creature comforts or the things we THINK we have figured out. Jonah is humbled in the final chapter, reminding us of our constant need for growth in Christ as we tackle the incredible mission He has for us in the city He has c alled us to.
